BUREAU of Immigration (BI) officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 reported the arrival of 26 Filipino repatriates from Malaysia.
The Immigration Protection and Border Enforcement Section (I-PROBES) reported to Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado the arrival of another batch of repatriates, consisting of nine females and seventeen males, who arrived on March 16.
The victims, aged between their early twenties and forties, arrived onboard an AirAsia flight from Malaysia. The majority disclosed that they departed the country through illegal “backdoor” routes, particularly via southern borders, where they were clandestinely transported by boat to Malaysia.
Viado said that BI records indicate that the victims’ departures spanned nearly two decades, from as early as 2006 up to 2025. He added that the BI continues to observe a pattern wherein trafficking syndicates exploit illegal migration corridors or typically known as “backdoor” exits to transport victims out of the country and circumvent established immigration controls.
“These victims were apprehended by Malaysian immigration authorities due to their undocumented status. Most were detained prior to their repatriation,” Viado added.
One female victim recounted that she was initially recruited to work as a waitress but was later coerced into engaging in sex work.
Meanwhile, several male victims who were recruited to work in construction reported experiencing maltreatment, including non-payment or underpayment of wages.
Viado condemned the trafficking syndicates, stating, “Many Filipinos leave the country with hopes of improving their lives, but traffickers take advantage of this vulnerability. These victims were deceived by false promises and subjected to exploitation. The Bureau stands firm in its mandate to assist victims and combat trafficking in all its forms.”
Viado likewise underscored the BI’s intensified efforts to strengthen preventive measures at airports and seaports, while sustaining close coordination with local and international partners, particularly in securing border areas in the southern Philippines.
The BI stressed that it will continue the strict enforcement of departure protocols and intensify its information campaign to deter and prevent the recurrence of trafficking schemes.
The victims are currently receiving support while the IACAT builds cases against the perpetrators.
